Outboard motor



Jan. 30, 1962 M. F. SNYDER ETAL 3,018,754

OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Sept. 12, 1960 n m mam N mar m v7: w m A 5F n P mm5 5 Z W llwlala 5 & Ill Illll W I HMoMh \1 3. I II 1 M\ [H .h m Q a \l n)wN I \m M bN w a MNYWN MN N 8 mw I United States Patent 3,018,754OUTBOARD MOTOR Merton F. Snyder, Minneapolis, and Leslie W. Foster, St.Paul, Minn., assignors to McCulloch Corporation, Marine ProductsDivision, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 12,1960, Ser. No. 55,327 2 Claims. (Cl. 115-18) when the motor is not inuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide an 0utboard motor whereina functional part of the motor is formed as a carrying handle and withsuch handle so located as with respect to the center of gravity of themotor as to allow balanced manual transport and handling thereof.

With these objects in mind the invention broadly comprises an outboardmotor having a housing with a forwardly opening recess extending alongthe front side thereof, a pivot bracket disposed within the recess androtatably connected to the housing, a boat bracket mounted on the pivotbracket for folding movement about the pivot bracket axis into a storedposition within the re- 'cess, and a steering handle on the motor andfoldable to a collapsed position in the recess, the boat bracket andhandle lying on opposite sides of the pivot bracket in the recess. Theinvention is further characterized by forming a pistol grip handle onthe pivot bracket so as to lie directly over the center of gravity ofthe motor when the motor is dismounted from a boat and positioned withthe pivot bracket on top.

The above mentioned and other objects of the invention will be broughtto light during the course of the following specification, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawing, in which- FIG. 1 is a sideelevation of an outboard motor embodying the improved construction andshowing the molt)or mounted in operating position on the transom of aoat.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the motor with the boat bracket andsteering handle folded into inoperative or collapsed position forstorage or transport of the motor.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the motor in the condition shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the motor in operative condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference characterswill be used to denote like parts or structural features in thedifferent views. The motor is designated generally at and is shown inFIG. I mounted in conventional operating position on the transom T atthe rear end of boat B.

Motor 10 has an outer housing comprising a powerhead shroud or enclosure11, a drive shaft housing 12, and a lower unit housing 14. A propelleris carried by the lower unit below the anti-cavitation plate 16 and hasdriving connection through the housings 14 and 12 with the power unitenclosed within the shroud 11.

At its front side which normally faces the transom T, the housingsection 12 has a vertically elongated recess 17 which opens forwardlyand sidewardly with upper and "ice lower walls, respectively denoted at18 and 19, facing each other in vertically spaced relation. These wallsare provided with aligned bosses which respectively journal the ends 20of an elongated pivot bracket or steering column denoted generally at20. Bracket 20 is a forwardly opening channel and has integrally formedtherewith a bifurcated extension 21 near its upper end, a pair oftransversely opposing apertured tilt pin support bars 22 and a handleportion 24 having a pistol grip exterior configuration to facilitatemanual engagement.

The front of the member 20 is open for reception therewithin of one endportion of a U-shaped boat bracket or clamp 25. This bracket has a plate26 formed on its rear leg for flat engagement against the rear surfaceof the transom T. The front leg of bracket 25 has an internally threadedaperture for reception and longitudinal adjustment of clamp screw 27therein, it being 0bvious that screw 27 may be tightened toward theplate 26 and against the transom T to securely lock the bracket 25 uponthe transom. The bight portion ofthe boat bracket 25 is pivoted betweenthe ears of extension 21 by means of a pivot pin 28 for tilt adjustmentof the motor 10 about a transverse axis.

The opening apertures 29 in the bars 22 are aligned for selectivereception of a tilt pin 30 which engages a rearwardly opening notch (notshown) in the boat bracket 25 to adjust the position of the motor aboutpin 28.

A steering handle 31 is provided for turning the motor about the axisformed by the journaled ends 20 of the bracket 20. This handle has ahousing 31 at its inner end which is journaled on a cross shaft 34. Aprojection on the housing 32 seats a spring-biased detent 35 engageablewith socket 36 on the cross shaft to yieldably lock the handle in aforwardly extending or operating position. The handle is foldablebetween the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and it will be observed inFIG. 2 that when the handle is in its downward position it is spacedsubstantially from the handle portion 24 on the pivot bracket.

Bracket 25 is a single clamp and being relatively narrow in Width liessubstantially within the lateral dimensions of the pivot bracket 20.Accordingly, when the motor is dismounted and the bracket 20 is turned aquarter turn about its longitudinal axis the member 25 will be movedinto the recess area 17. Similarly when handle 31 is swung downwardlyabout its hinged connection it will be brought substantially within therecess area on the opposite side of column 20 from bracket 25. In thiscondition the motor may be conveniently stored in a minimum amount ofspace.

Handle portion 24 is so located as to be directly over .the center ofgravity of the motor when the motor is at rest on its back side. It thusserves as a well balanced handle for one-handed carrying of the motor.The bandle 24 is provided with finger grooves as shown and there issufficient space between this handle and housing 12 to allow convenientgripping and release thereof. Handle 24 is best utilized with thebracket 25 swung to its outer position.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fullyillustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an outboard motor, an elongated motor housing enclosing a motordrive shaft, said housing having a pair of facing bosses spacedlongitudinally of the housing, an elongated steering column extendinggenerally parallel to the drive shaft and having its ends journaled insaid bosses, a boat bracket pivoted to the steering column for mountingthe housing in upright position on a boat transom with the steeringcolumn in substantially vertical position and said steering columnhaving a pistol grip handle formed on the exterior thereof, said handlebeing located horizontally opposite the longitudinal center of weight ofthe motor to serve as a balanced carrying handle for the motor when itis dismounted.

2.- In an outboard motor, an elongated upright motor housing enclosingthe motor drive mechanism including an upright drive shaft, the centerof weight of said housing and mechanism being located above thelongitudinal center of the housing, said housing having verticallyspaced upper and lower forwardly projecting portions forming a forwardlyopening recess extending along the front of the housing with thevertical limits thereof located on opposite sides of said center ofweight, an elongated steering column extending vertically between saidforwardly projecting portions and journaled on the housing for pivotalmovement in the recess about the longitudinal axis of the column, asingular boat clamp pivoted on one side of the steering column, saidclamp being formed in an inverted U along a plane in which thelongitudinal axis of the steering column lies, and a finger grip formedon the side of the steering column remote from the clamp and inhorizontal alignment with said center of weight for balanced manualcarrying of the motor by said grip when the housing is turned to ahorizontal position with the steering column up and with said columnturned about its pivot axis to place the plane of the clampsubstantially horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

